Bottle cap



A. C- BOWEN Nov. 17, 1931.

BOTTLE CAP Filed July 9, 1927 INVENTOR A 71 na- 6 Zawzn W ATTORNEYPatented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANNA. C. BOWEN, OFNEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, OFTWO-THIRDS TO BLOSSOM M. D'UNBAR AND ONE-THIRD TO ANNA C.

BOWEN, BOTH OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOTTLE CA]? Application filed July 9, 1927. 'Serial No. 204,452.

This invention relates to closures for bottles, and in particular to theconvering and protecting of such bottles as are used for milk, cream,and the like.

Its particular objects are to provide, in conjunction with the cappingand closing of the bottle, particularly advantageous means forprotecting the lip of the bottle, so made as to cooperate with the otherparts of the closure in the effective wayshereinafter more particularlydescribed.

Essentially, this invention relates to the construction and formationofthe lip-hood, so that the edge of the hood forms a seal with the outersurface of the lip, and is so constructed in conjunction with adisc-stopper in order that the hood automatically positions itself whilepermitting the disc to be seated in the effective sealing manner,without injury to the hood, or without impairing the perfect functioningof the hood, and also the hood-and-disc stopper as a unit.

The invention will be more particularly understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. I is a perspective view of a complete unit cap-and-cover, embodyingthe invention;

Fig. size;

Fig. III isa cross section of a modified form, fragmental view, showingband arrangement;

Fig. IV is a cross section of another modified form, fragmental view;

Fig. V is a cross section of another modified form, fragmental View;

Fig. VI is a cross section of a bottle-top II is a cross section ofsame, double with a cap-cover unit in initial position ready forapplication; and,

Fig. VII is a cross section of a bottle-top with a unit cap-coverapplied and in operative position.

The complete unit, as shown in Fig. I, has the closure disc 2, on topofwhich is secured the hood member having a skirt 1 adapted to fit overthe lip of the bottle when the disc is forced into its sealing position.

The hood or skirt 1 may be formed as shown, by pressing paper or otherlike material into the desired shape, and in the form indicated theformation of the paper results in small crimps or folds accommodatingthe surplus material at the rim portion of maximum deformation, whichmay cause a fluted or like rim structure on the edge of the hood, -andit is in that particular respect that this invention serves to providethe material advantages as herein claimedf Thus, the hood 1 has securedon its inner'surface at the lower edge a'band 3, which is formed ofinextensible material, such as a straight strip of suitable tough paper,united with the edge or overhanging rim of the hood. This may be unitedas by pasting the band securely on the edge on the inside of thehood-skirt 1, so that in use, when the disc is forced into a milkbottle-neck, the band takes the strain due to being forced onto theflaring outer surface of the lip of the bottle, and resisting thatstrain, thus providing and maintaining a closed dustproof and sanitaryseal with the bottle head.

In the modification, the band 4: is made longer, and while still servingto resist expansion strain in application, it leaves a margin 8 of thematerial of the hood which may cover the flash 10, which is usuallyformed on theoutside near the maximum diameter of the bead in themanufacture ofsuch bottles, while the edge 8 also serves as a readymeans of tearing the hood loose when removing the cap from the bottle.

In the form with band 5, the width of the band is extended from the edgea greater degree, and is united at the inwardly curved portion of thehood at 6, in order to stiffen. the outer rim of the hood so as to meetthe particular conditions where such advantages are desired, inparticular forms of bottle.

The modification showing band 7 involves a folded inextensible circularband with the portion 7 engaging the outside of the hoodskirt 1, so thatthe band so folded and secured provides a rounded edge, and still moresecure means for preventing strain from expanding the hood when appliedto the bottle.

The band is so formed and of such material that essentially it providesa smooth inner edge, so that it forms a nice fit with the'surface of theglass on the outside of the bead, and as desired, more or less of theinner surface of the hood-edge may form the contact with the glass toeffectually provide a sanitary closure. Care is provided that the innersurface is of such a character that while forming a non-sticking seal itwill not adhere to the glass, which I prefer to do by parafiining thematerial,-so that when voluntary removal is desired, a finger-nailreadily releases the edge of the hood, and with slight movement liftsthe hood, due to the flexible upper portion of the paper, and permitstearing the entire unit closure with its sealing disc from the top ofthe bottle.

While tough paper is most adaptable, I may in some cases use foradditional strength and security of structure, a fabric reinforcedpaper, or the like.

As more particularly shown in Figs. II and V, it will be seen that thehood portion where attached to the disc 2 is bent or creased at 1 into asharp angle very close to the periphery of the disc 2 in order that acapping tool may press the unit closure into position without mutilatingor tearing the hood material.

Furthermore, the material of the hood at 1, while creased or otherwise,is so formed that it will yield without being torn, so that when theedge of the hood 9 engages with its predetermined size the outer surfaceof the lip to a close sealing fit, then the material at 1 yieldssufiiciently to permit the entire disc 2 to be pressed down to theabsolute sealing of the bottle by the disc which holds the milk or othercontents in the bottle.

This yielding feature of the hood is more particularly indicated byreference to Figs. VI andVII,-the former showing the initial unitclosure loosely set on top of the bottle,

and a sealing plug 12 in initial engagement with the top surface of thehood middle portion, having its rim 14 of a size slightly smaller thanthe opening in the neck of the bottle in order that the sealing plug,when forced home, will press the disc 2 against the shoulder 11. As theplug 12 is forced down, either by hand or machine, its contour at 13,being curved, engages the high point 1 of the hood, and simultaneouswith driving the disc home to its seat the plug gradually presses thehood toward the upper edge 12 of the lip of the bottle bead. While thisapplication is being made the edge of the hood 9 has engaged the outersurface of the bottle bead, and being inexpansible it can move nofurther, so that the yielding portion of the hood at 1 permits the disc2 to move to its seat, and completely effect the closure of the bottlewithout tearing or in any way mutilating the hood contiguous with thedisc, and thus serves to cover efi'ectually the lip of the bottle, whichis the portion desired to be protected for sanitary reasons.

In Fig. VII it is seen that the closure has been applied while the hoodedge has maintained its intended contact with the outer surface of thebead forming thereby the double seal without injury to the unit closureand without in any way interfering with the proper seating and sealingfunctions of the disc.

As shown in these latter figures, 1O indicates a slight ridge around themaximum diameter of the bead of the bottle, known as a flash, in theforming of the glass. This flash is so located that I prefer to have thelength of the shirt on hood such as to reach just to this position, andwith the reinforcing of the edge of the skirt such as will engage thesmooth surface of the bottle-lip above the flash, thereby insuring atight and complete contact between the outer portion of the hood and theglass. In whichever form the band is provided, it will be noted that thecrimped edge of the hood is held by the band against expansions, butmore particularly the band being of such form and material as to resistall the strain of application of the closure, also holds the crimpededge, such as in a paper hood, to prevent fluffing or spreading of thecrimped paper when wetted, and thereby maintains the shape of theprotecting hood at exactly that part of the structure where itsintegrity insures the perfect functioning of the entire structure.

As to the material in the production of my cap, I prefer for the hoodportion a suitable grade of paper which while tough and resisting all ofthe wear and tear in use, also provides the necessary flexibility inevery respect above described. The band is preferably of thin paper,adapted for its particular functions, and is secured firmly by anydesired adhesive with pressure to provide uniformity of the product,smoothness of inner surface and edge, and all desired permanency of thefinished structure.

This invention is particularly designed to constitute a furtherimprovement on bottle closures of the prior art type in which the capstructure comprises a hood member, the outer skirt, or peripheralportion 9, of which has been formed by crimping in proper dies theperipheral portion of an originally fiat disc of paper, and naturallyretains a latent tendency to expand toward its original form, whichtendency is increased by the expansion resulting from the absorption ofmoisture, either from the atmosphere or other source, while in use. Thisdifficulty is further aggravated by the fact that any dampening of thefibre of this hood member decreases its power of resistance to any suchexp-am sion producing forces or other deforming tendencies. As a result,the dampened hood with consequent loose or projecting skirt IOU edgesceases to form an effective protection for the lip 12 of the bottlehead, and also becomes unsightly. The outer seal (as distinguished fromthe main, inner or holding seal formed by closure disc 2) then becomesbroken.

My invention overcomes this difficulty by attaching to the expansiblehood skirt a substantially inexpansible band 3, which, also,

when placed on the inside of the skirt, as here shown in the preferredform, afiords a smooth engaging surface that willactually form a perfectand permanent seal with the outer periphery of the bottle bead. Suchband is substantially continuous, i. e., if not seamless, its abuttingends are fastened together so that it cannot be stretched appreciablywithout rupture.

Also, in addition to overcoming the deteriorating effects of moisture,as above pointed out, my invention produces a bottle-capping devicewhich is initially and inherently stronger mechanically than is thecapping portion of the structure of the said art type above referred to,as the relatively fragile fluted hood-edge 9 is rendered fairly rigid,as well as non-expansible, by the additional reinforcement of thecontinuous band 3, cemented or otherwise fastened thereto around itsentire circumference, thus producing a cover that may be pressed to itsplace over and around the bottle neck and snugly down upon the bead, orflash 10, thereon, without injury to its structure or impairment of itsstrength.

Various modifications may be made in the material used and the exactdimensions, which, however, will be selected to suit the particular sizeand formation of the bottletops for which they are intended,but what Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a milk bottle capping device having an inner closure disc adaptedto fit tightly in the interior of the bottle mouth, and an outer hoodmember of more flexible material fastened to said disc and having itsperior wardly crimped portion of said hood member, whereby there isproduced a cover that may be pressed to its place over the bottle neckand down to the bead thereon, without injury to' said cover structure orimpairment of its strength.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this application, this6th day of July.

ANNA C. BOWEN.

ripheral portion bent over and crimped down around the lip of the bottlehead, the combination with the above recited structure, of asubstantially continuous annular band of non-extensible materialfastened to the inner surface of said downwardly crimped portion of saidhood member, thereby affording a smooth engaging surface that will forma perfect seal with said bottle lip, said annular 4 band having a fixedinterior circumference substantially equal to the outer circumference ofthe upper portion of said lip of the 'bottle head, and being so locatedrelatively to said inner closure disc as to bear upon said outer lipsurface when said disc is seated in said bottle mouth.

2-. A combination such as defined in claim 1, in which the inner surfaceof said band is

